334 



RIVER DOCE. 



was now clearing, and upon which he wis 

 erecting several buildings. He and his famiy 

 inhabited a barn, and we were to sleep in lis 

 new house, of which the roof and the wool- 

 work of the wails were alone erected. Tie 

 rainy season had commenced, and this unfinished 

 dwelling was almost surrounded by pools of stag- 

 nant water, inhabited by enormous toads, whoie 

 loud and hoarse croaking continued during tie 

 whole of the night, without intermission. Tie 

 trunks of the trees which had been cut down a 

 short time before, were lying as they had fallui 

 in all directions. In the morning I set <ff 

 alone, on my return to Recife : I made for tie 

 sea-shore, and soon reached the river Doce, a 

 narrow stream, which, after a course of four *r 

 five leagues, here discharges its waters into tie 

 sea. The tide enters it, and again recedes will 

 considerable rapidity ; at such times it is n»t 

 fordable, but at the ebb the remaining wates 

 are very trifling, and some parts of the channel 

 are left quite dry. It is necessary to pass quick y 

 over, as the sand of which its bed is composed 

 is very fine, and although not altogether what s 

 called quicksand, still to delay in one spot is n»t 

 quite safe. When the tide is out, the water >f 

 the river is quite sweet, which has obtained fir 

 it the name of Doce. 



It was upon the borders of this river that tie 

 Portuguese and the Dutch were first opposed o 



